How Many Seminaries Does A Dying Denomination Really Need?

From The Living Church:

Seabury-Western Suspends Recruitment, Admissions
Posted on: February 21, 2008

The Very Rev. Gary R. Hall, dean and president of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, has announced that the school will “suspend recruitment and admissions to all degree and certificate programs” while it considers its future.

“We believe that the church does not need Seabury in its present form,” Dean Hall wrote. “There are a number of other schools who do what we have traditionally done as well as we do. But we also believe that the church very much needs a seminary animated by and organized around a new vision of theological education­one that is centered in a vision of baptism and its implications for the whole church, one that is flexible and adaptive and collaborative in nature.”

The decision to suspend recruitment and admissions was made following a meeting earlier this week of the board of trustees. The board approved a resolution calling on Dean Hall to develop “a detailed plan for the future operation of Seabury, including a financial plan that brings expenses in line with revenues” by its next meeting

The seminary has been running deficit budgets for the better part of 20 years, according to Elizabeth Butler, vice president for advancement and administration. Classes during the current term, which ends in May, will not be affected, but no classes have been scheduled for the term to begin in September. Layoffs of faculty and staff have not been ruled out as part of the reorganization, Ms. Butler said.

“The board has made a really courageous decision which recognizes that the church doesn’t need us as Seabury is currently configured,” she told The Living Church. “We are not clear what will be offered in the fall and since we aren’t clear, we have decided not to say anything.”

Seabury is interested in developing a partnership with either another academic institution or a church organization. Ms. Butler said it was unlikely that the trustees would decide to reopen the seminary as an independent, three-year residential educational institution after the reorganization. The trustees are scheduled to meet again in May, but Ms. Butler said a special meeting is likely to be held in April. The school hopes to unveil its reorganization plan after the regularly scheduled board meeting in May.

Seabury employs eight faculty members, although not all are considered full-time employees. There are 50 students currently enrolled in the seminary’s three-year residential program, Ms. Butler said. An additional 25 students are enrolled in the doctor of divinity program. Existing students in the doctoral program will be allowed to continue, but no new students will be accepted for that program.

Steve Waring

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[Editor's Note: based on information I have received from Bexley Hall, there are at least two seminaries of pecusa that are on life support.]